Suicide bomb kills Nato soldier, 8 Afghans

The US convoy was travelling through town to a nearby area where International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) soldiers killed 20 Taliban insurgents a day earlier in a battle involving artillery and war planes.

"A vehicle-borne suicide bomber killed eight Afghan civilians in an attack on an Isaf convoy travelling in Kandahar City," an Isaf statement said, adding that two Isaf soldiers and several civilians were also wounded.

One of the troops died later in hospital, it said. The statement did not give the soldier's nationality but Isaf officials said earlier the bomb had hit a US convoy.

The car used for the attack was totally destroyed and lay in pieces at the site, an AFP reporter said. Blood was spattered on the road and sidewalks, while three nearby shops were on fire and 10 others were damaged.